Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Oireachtas all-party Cochlear Implant group agrees to keep up the pressure for funding

Happy New Ear families at Dáil today - May22nd 2013

The first
meeting of the Oireachtas all-party group on Cochlear Implant met this
afternoon (Wednesday).

It was very
well attended.17 TDs and Seanadóirí took
part or sent one of their staffers.

A number of
others indicated their support for the campaign but were unable to attend
because of other Oireachtas commitments.

The meeting
was chaired by Louth TD Gerry Adams and addressed by two parents from the Happy
New Ear campaign, Danielle Ryan and Amie O Connor.

The families
also met Minister Lynch today.

Sinn Féin
President Gerry Adams TD speaking after the meeting said:

“I want to
thank all of the TDs and Seanadóirí who attended today’s meeting and the families
for briefing us on recent developments. The families are meeting Minister
Lynch.

Good
progress has been made recently and a business proposal to provide bilateral
cochlear implants will be presented to the Minister by Beaumont hospital in
June.

The business
plan calls for €7 million capital investment and annual running costs of €4
million. This will address the 200 children who are expected to take up this
opportunity.

The business
plan is based on a UK model which will have the children divided into groups
with the largest, Group 1 containing 65 children aged under 5. It is expected
that it will take 18 months – two years to clear the back log of children.

Caoimghín Ó
Caoláin told the meeting that the Health Committee will be holding its
quarterly meeting with the Minister for Health on Thursday and that this issue is
down on the agenda for discussion. He asked the other party representatives to
join in the discussion in support of the children.

The meeting acknowledged
that this is a winnable campaign but that the focus must be on keeping up the
pressure and delivering the funding and business plan as early as possible.”